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Following Manchester bombing, soldiers deployed across UK

Three more suspects have been arrested connected to the suicide bombing, which took place at an Ariana Grande concert.

By Jill Lawless and Gregory Katz , Associated Press
Manchester, England

British security forces arrested three more suspects Wednesday in connection with the Manchester, England, concert bombing and sent hundreds of soldiers to secure key sites across the country, including Buckingham Palace and the British Parliament at Westminster.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the bomber, identified as British-born Libyan Salman Abedi, 鈥渓ikely鈥 did not act alone when he killed 22 people and wounded dozens at an Ariana Grande concert Monday night in Manchester. She said he had been known to security forces 鈥渦p to a point.鈥

Many at the concert were young girls and teens enthralled by Grande鈥檚 pop power. The youngest victim of the bombing named so far was just 8 years old.

Officials are examining Mr. Abedi鈥檚 trips to Libya and possibly Syria as they piece together his allegiances and try to foil any new potential threats. The government said nearly 1,000 soldiers were deployed Wednesday instead of police in high-profile sites in London and other locations.

Police said three men were arrested Wednesday in south Manchester, where a day earlier a 23-year-old man was also arrested and a number of homes were searched.

Britain raised its threat level from terrorism to 鈥渃ritical鈥 after an emergency government meeting late Tuesday amid concerns that the 22-year-old Abedi may have accomplices who are planning another attack.

The changing of the guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace was canceled Wednesday so police officers can be re-deployed, Britain鈥檚 defense ministry said. The traditional ceremony is a major tourist attraction in London.

The Palace of Westminster, which houses the British Parliament in London, was also closed Wednesday to all those without passes, and tours and events there were cancelled until further notice. Armed police were also seen on patrol outside St. Paul鈥檚 Cathedral in London, another popular tourist spot.

The Chelsea soccer team announced it would cancel Sunday鈥檚 victory parade in London that was to have celebrated the team鈥檚 Premier League title win this season.

鈥淲e are sure our fans will understand this decision,鈥 the team said, adding that the parade would have diverted police from the bombing investigation.

Suicide bomber Abedi was born in Britain to a Libyan family, grew up in Manchester鈥檚 southern suburbs and once attended Salford University there.

Police on Tuesday raided his house, using a controlled explosion to blast down the door. Neighbors recalled him as a tall, thin young man who often wore traditional Islamic dress and did not talk much.

Manchester police arrested a man early Wednesday at a house just a 10-minute walk from Abedi鈥檚 home.

Omar Alfa Khuri, who lives across the street, said he was awakened at 2:30 a.m. by a loud noise and saw police take away the father of the family that lives there in handcuffs. He said the man is named Adel and is in his 40s, with a wife and several children.

鈥淭here was a policeman, armed policeman, shouting at my neighbor ... and I realized there is something wrong here,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hey arrested the father, and I think the rest of the family kind of disappeared.鈥

He said he immediately suspected the arrest might be linked to the bombing since 鈥渟omebody told me they were Libyans, or I read it somewhere.鈥

He said he knew the man from the neighborhood and the mosque but 鈥渋n the last 15 years, I haven鈥檛 seen him in trouble at all. I haven鈥檛 seen police come to his house.鈥

Police also raided and searched a property elsewhere in Manchester where Abedi鈥檚 brother Ismail is thought to have lived.

British Prime Minister Theresa May chaired a meeting Wednesday of her emergency security cabinet group to talk about intelligence reports on Abedi and concerns that he might have had outside support.

Officials are probing how often Abedi had traveled to Libya, which has seen an eruption of armed Islamist groups since dictator Moammar Gadhafi was overthrown and killed in 2011.

France鈥檚 interior minister said Abedi is believed to have traveled to Syria and had 鈥減roven鈥 links with the Islamic State group. British officials, however, have not commented on whether Abedi had links to IS or other extremist groups.

Ms. Rudd said Britain鈥檚 increased official threat level will remain at 鈥渃ritical鈥 as the investigation proceeds and won鈥檛 be lowered until security services are convinced there is no active plot in place.

She also complained about US officials leaking sensitive information about Abedi to the press. Rudd said Britain鈥檚 operational security could be harmed by the leaks, taking 鈥渢he element of surprise鈥 away from security services and police.

鈥淚 have been very clear with our friends that that should not happen again,鈥 she said.

In addition to those killed in the concert attack, Manchester officials raised to 119 the number of people who sought medical treatment after the attack.

Sixty-four people are still hospitalized, Jon Rouse of the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership said Wednesday. Officials say 20 of them are being treated for critical injuries.

Many of them had serious wounds that will require 鈥渧ery long term care and support in terms of their recovery,鈥 Mr. Rouse said.

Officials said all those hospitalized had been identified.

As soldiers replaced armed police at Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street and Parliament, London Police Commander Jane Connors said the goal is to 鈥渕ake our city as hostile an environment as possible for terrorists to plan and operate.鈥

Gregory Katz reported from London. Sylvia Hui in London, Rob Harris in Manchester, and Angela Charlton in Paris contributed.